Chatsworth roadway to reopen more than 1 year after closing due to sinkhole
A road in Chatsworth that was split open by a sinkhole last January is ready to reopen.
Iverson Road at the 118 Freeway underpass was closed Jan. 9, 2023, after a sinkhole appeared during heavy storms, swallowing two cars and stranding a mother and her daughter.
In the days that followed, public works crews watched helplessly as the sinkhole continued to grow in the heavy rain, despite working around the clock to stabilize it.
Two vehicles swallowed by a sinkhole on Iverson Road in Chatsworth are shown in this January 2023 photo provided by Caltrans. Photos from January 2023 show a sinkhole in Chatsworth that appeared following intense rains. (Caltrans) Crews with LAFD rescued a mother a daughter after their vehicle fell into a sinkhole in Chatsworth Jan. 9, 2023 (OC Hawk) Sky5 captures the Chatsworth sinkhole days after it appeared on Jan. 9, 2023 (KTLA) Tarps and sandbags seen covering a portion of sinkhole to prevent further erosion (Caltrans)
But now the road is ready to handle drivers again and will reopen Wednesday following a $14.2 million repair project that began last May.
“Caltrans is excited to reopen Iverson Road with access to local residents and commuters,” said Gloria Roberts, Caltrans District 7 director. “This emergency repair project represents Caltrans’ commitment to safety and to properly maintain our infrastructure.”
Roberts continued to offer thanks to utility companies for their cooperation and to the public for their “patience and understanding.”
Among the emergency work completed, crews sealed the 50-feet-wide by 45-feet-deep sinkhole, repaired major damage to drainage and sewage lines, and fixed a damaged water main.
Utility lines were also relocated and Caltrans designed a new drainage system that it says is more suitable for the steep sloping terrain.
Dirt was replaced, the site was graded and the roadway was repaved and restriped, Caltrans said. Adjacent plants and slopes were “restored to their previous condition.”
During construction, crews saw mountain lions, bobcats and snakes near the work site, officials said. Birds were seen trying to nest in the underpass, which led to crews installing a chicken wire fence.
Final construction work and landscaping will be completed by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Caltrans said, but the road may open before that if work is completed early.
The January 2023 sinkhole stranded four people initially, but two were able to get out on their own. The mother and daughter required rescue from the Los Angeles Fire Department and were both treated for minor injuries.
Officials said the rescue was an important reminder for motorists to not try to traverse a roadway where the pavement isn’t visible.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
